Biodegradable barrier coating developed for paper packaging
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The reduction of fossil raw materials also poses new challenges for the Packaging Industry. In a research project, scientists from INNOVENT e.V. in Jena and the paper manufacturer Reflex from Düren investigated how special paper can be equipped with a water vapor barrier without impairing its already very good oxygen barrier. In the laboratory, it was possible to develop coatings based on biopolymers and waxes that could not previously be applied in sufficient thickness in industrial flexographic printing. Nevertheless, the water vapor barrier was improved and the paper remained compostable and recyclable.
The increasing renunciation of fossil raw materials also requires new material concepts in the packaging industry. In the field of sustainable paper packaging in particular, solutions are needed that guarantee functional barrier properties as well as recyclability and biodegradability, for example on a paper basis. As a specialty paper manufacturer, Reflex has developed a transparent paper that is characterized by a very good oxygen barrier. Together with INNOVENT e.V., a federally funded research project has now investigated whether this paper can be equipped with a fully compostable and recyclable water vapor barrier and is therefore suitable for the packaging materials market.
About the coatings, ....
To this end, various coating formulations based on aqueous biopolymer solutions were developed on a laboratory scale. These did not exhibit the desired barrier properties, which is why hydrophobic components such as waxes and inorganic particles were added. Applied to paper samples, the coatings were then tested for their barrier properties, recyclability and compostability.
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It was shown that the combination of biopolymers and waxes enables significant improvements in the water vapor barrier. At the same time, the very good oxygen barrier of the original paper was retained. The coated papers also proved to be completely biodegradable and recyclable. As a result, a sustainable material concept for functional paper packaging was demonstrated. However, a key challenge arose during the transfer to existing industrial production processes. With the coating solution developed, it has not yet been possible to achieve sufficiently thick layers using flexographic printing, meaning that the desired barrier properties could not yet be fully implemented on an industrial scale. Possibilities for improving the application quantity are therefore still being investigated.
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The innovative packaging solution would hit the nerve of the times: Sustainable packaging solutions are becoming increasingly important, particularly in the food and consumer goods sector. Paper-based materials with improved barrier properties could replace plastic packaging in certain applications and thus contribute to reducing the use of fossil raw materials and the flood of plastic. Depending on the final water vapor barrier achieved, possible applications include the packaging of dry foods, snacks or other products where both oxygen and water vapor barriers are relevant. The knowledge gained in the project forms a basis for future developments towards industrially usable, bio-based packaging materials.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. LUMITOS offers these automatic translations to present a wider range of current news. Since this article has been translated with automatic translation, it is possible that it contains errors in vocabulary, syntax or grammar. The original article in German can be found here.
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